Convertible fabric article



Feb. 26, 1935. Q oss 1,992,772

CONVERTIBLE FABRIC ARTICLE Filed May 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 26, 1 935. c. A. ROSS 1,992,772

CONVERTIBLE FABRIC ARTICLE Filed May 12; 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1| unlriln y y mi mm w u 2" m u 3 N 1 A w w: r/ r a I d u 2 a 5 my I--- n F V w a M Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNI ED STA ES PATENT OFFICE .CONVERTIBLE FABRIC ARTICLE barren A. Bos riq a, Ohio Application May 12, 19s4, Serial No. 725,336 Claims; (01224-46) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in convertible fabric articles.

It is one of the principal objects of my lIlVGIl'. tion to provide a beach blanket that may be easily 5 converted into a carrying bag by asimple folding and tying operation. This blanket, which may be backed with waterproof material to serve as a picnic rug, or as a bathing cape, has attached to its middle portion strings that are adapted to' m be passed through loops at the ends of a stiffening member secured to its top part to convert it into a neat, compact bag for carrying a bathing suit, books, toilet articles and other things.

It is another objectof my invention to provide 7 an apron which may be converted into a carrying bag by the s'ame means. 7

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the blanket completely folded.

Figure 2 is a plan View of'the blanket completely unfolded as it will appear when spread upon the ground. Figure 3 is a view of the blanket after the first folding operation. Figure 4 is a view of the blanket after the second folding operation. Figure 5 is a detail view of the stiffening member and loop construction, partly in section. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the apron after it has been converted into a bag. Figure '7 is a plan view of the apron blank before it has been folded to form the large pocket. Figure 8 is a plan view of the completed apron ready to be worn assuch. Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8. And Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 8, showing the stitching for connecting the loops and the stiffening member to the apron.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a rectangular piece of suitable fabric, which, through the following folding operations, may be easily converted into a bag for carrying various articles such as those used by bathers at a beach.

The lower portion 2 of the fabric piece 1 is first folded about the dotted line 3 to bring its lower edge 4 under the middle portion of the piece, to the dotted line 5. To the opposite side 6 is so attached that its ends are free to be tied together. The blanket is then folded again in a similar manner, bringing the folded edge 3 into registry with the top edge 7 of the blanket. After the above folding operations are completed, the

of the central portion of the fabric piece 1 a string string 6 will be on the outside. (See Figure 3.) I

"The next operationincludes folding the marginal edge 8 inwardly along the vertical-dotted line 9, and bringing this edge into a position along the dotted line 10. The opposite marginal edge 11 is also folded inwardly along the line 10 in a similar manner, the folded blanket 12, as disclosed in Figure 4, resulting. i

The stiffening member .13 which is made of a light weight wood, buckram, or other suitable 1 material, is received within a pocket 14 that is formed by superimposed layers of tape 15, the edges of which are sewed to the blanket proper. The loops 16, 16 are formed by doubling the long free ends 1'7, 17 of the tape and stitching them. (See Figure 5.)

The final folding operationis effected by again folding the blanket along the horizontal dotted line 18, as shown in Figure 4, bringing its lower edge 19 into a position adjacent the stiffening member 13. The free ends of the string 6 are then passed through the loops 16, 16,-and tied together to provide means for carrying the'bag.

By the various folding operations just described it is seen that it is possible to convert a rectangu- 25 lar piece of fabric used as a blanket or cape, into a bag suitable for carrying various articles.

Although I have described the folding operations in such a way as to insure a compact and neat bag, it may be folded in various other ways to serve the same purpose.

In Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, I have illustrated an apron 20 which may be converted into a carrying bag by means similar to those heretofore described. This apron is preferably made of a substantially rectangular blank or piece of suitable fabric 21 having one end 22 straight and its opposite end 23 formed with a semi-elliptic cutaway portion 24. The blank 21 is then folded about a medial line 25 to bring the opposite ends 40 of it into registry for stitching to form a large pocket26 to receive knitting and other articles. The top portion of the inner fold of the blank is now formed with wide box pleats 27, 27 to conform the upper part of the apron to the shape of 45 the waist of the person wearing it.

Then there is applied to the registering ends of the folded blank a doubled tape 28 whose ends project beyond the sides of the apron to provide strings 29, 29 which are adapted to be tied together to firmly secure it to the wearer. Stitching is employed, not only to close the folded tape 28, but also to secure it over the registering opposite ends 20 and 21, and the box pleats 27, 27, of the folded blank. 55

' fabric carries a stiffening member or spreading stick 30, which extends only to the side edges of the blank. At the ends of the stiffening member 30, projecting loops 31, 31 are, secured to the folded fabric blank by stitching 32, which forms in said blank, pockets into which the ends of said member project.

Stitched to the outer side of the folded blank 21 are two adjacent rectangular pieces 33, 33, which are unsecured to the blank at their top edges to form therewith pockets to receive small articles. The semi-elliptic edge which defines the upper portion of the large pocket 26 formed by the folded blank, is taped for reinforcing purposes as shown in Figure 8. The apronthus described may be easily converted into a carrying bag by bringing the stiff ened lower end of the folded fabric piece into registry with its taped upper edge, whereupon the strings 29, 29 are passed through the loops 31, 31 and tied together beyond them to provide a means by which the bag may be conveniently carried.

I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement herein shown and described, and any changes or alterations may be made therein within the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. Abeach blanket comprising a rectangular piece of fabric, projecting loops on one end of said fabric piece, and strings attached to the middle portion of said fabric piece for passage through said loops and for connection beyond them whereby said blanket may be so arranged that it forms a carrying bag. v

2. A beach blanket comprising a rectangular piece of fabric, a stiffening member secured to one end of said fabric piece, the latter adapted to be folded upon itself to bring a folded edge thereof adjacent the stiffening member, projecting loops secured thereto at the ends of the stiffening member, and strings attached to the fab-,

ric piece at its folded edge for passage through said loops and for connection beyond them whereby said blanket may be so arranged that it forms a carrying bag.

3. A beach blanket comprising a rectangular piece of fabric, a stick transversely secured to one end of said fabric, the latter adapted to be folded to bring a folded edge thereof adjacent said stick, a projecting loop secured to said fabric piece at each end, of said stick, and strings attached to said folded edge at the sides thereof for passage through said loops and for connection beyond them whereby said blanket may be so arranged that it forms a carrying bag.

4. An apron comprising a rectangular piece of fabric folded to bring its opposite ends into registry, a folded tape having projecting string ends, stitched over the registering ends of said folded fabric piece, a stiffening member secured to the lower end of the folded fabric piece, and projecting loops secured to the lower end of said piece, one near each end of the stiffening memben'to receive the string ends of the tape, for connection beyond them, when the stiffened lower end of the fabric piece is brought into registry with its upper taped end, whereby said apron may be so arranged that it forms a carrying bag.

5. An'apron comprising a rectangular piece of fabric having a straight end and a semi-elliptic end, said fabric piece being folded about a medial line to bring its opposite ends into registry, a folded tape having projecting string ends, stitched over the registering ends of the foldedfabric piece, atransverse stiffening member in the lower end of the piece, one at each end of said transverse member, and stitching'securing each loop and its respective end of the transverse member to the folded fabric, the string ends of said tape adapted to be passed through the loops and con-' nected beyond them when the stiffened end of the folded fabric piece is brought into registry with the taped end thereof, wherebyrsaid apron may be so arranged that it forms a carrying bag.

CARROLL A. ROSS. 

